Miraculous! The Luckiest!

[satalasers]

 S2 of Miraculous Ladybug was uh... an interesting if mixed bag. :(

The bad:

• This show's fucking adherence to the status quo hurts it so much! If it wasn't so insistent, this show could be so good! But it's going in a direction that I don't like, and the show constantly refusing to let characters grow and develop in any meaningful capacity is incredibly frustrating! If it just let the characters develop, that would be rad.

• I know I'm not on board with the Chloe Redemption, but JFC, I'm really not on board with it. You can't simply say 'hey, this person is sympathetic because she has terrible parents! give her a miraculous!'. Like if the show ACTUALLY SHOWED CHLOE REPENTING FOR HER ACTIONS, then MAYBE I'd consider her truly stepping forward into becoming something heroic (even if it would feel like an anti-hero at best). Whatever. If the show went there, but it's incredibly botched from the start. She's been given so many chances to redeem herself, and she just... she doesn't learn, she doesn't take any of them! It's so frustrating! Because the show tries, but it does not feel genuine, it feels lazy.

• Lila could be so fantastic as a HBIC? I don't understand why the show writes her like this! It's just really frustrating how the show hates her, and her lies don't even make sense, but somehow everyone believes her????

• Fu was... disappointing. He didn't have to be! But he really was such a terrible mentor and I'm dreading s3 for that reason.

• I don't necessarily think Gabriel/Nathalie is a bad ship, but like? There are a million other and better ways to have Nathalie be on Gabriel's side than just 'oh she's in love with him.' I know I'm always like EVIL BFFS. But maybe? EVIL BFFS would be great?

• This show is also inconsistent with how Gabriel sees Adrien. Usually he doesn't care, but then sometimes he does, and I just. I just wish the show was better about it, considering, well, the fact that Gabriel knows who Chat Noir is, and repeatedly puts him in danger fighting his minions.

• Kind of wish Gabriel and Marinette had a personal relationship? Sans Adrien. Like she loves fashion, he's a fashion designer! She could be his apprentice etc, only neither of them realize THAT THEY'RE ON THE OPPOSING SIDE. Like, I'd eat that up like candy!

• Really wish Adrien would take a hint when Ladybug says 'no, i'm not interesting', Adrien would be 'got it, I'm gonna move on' instead of 'one day! one day she'll love me back!' Just. Ugh.

• I don't mind Marinette being the one to cause akumatizations, but like? Show, it's got to be for the right reasons! The episode about the ice cream man was just.... boo hoo, so what if she rejected your ice cream, why are you taking this so personally??? 

The good:

• I really liked seeing the kwamis! 

• Rena Rouge and Carapace! Super cute! I really wanted more with Nino and Alya (esp more shippiness, but c'est la vie).

• The alternate love interests are cute! Both Kagami and Luka are sweet!

• Legit tempted to solely ship Luka/Marinette. They're just. I adore them.

• JAGGED STONE AND PENNY ROLLING ARE IN LOVE. THEY DON'T KNOW IT YET, BUT THEY ARE. Just. Aww. THE CUTEST SHIP.

• I love Dark Owl.

• I know Hawk Moth was incompetent with Gigantor but I just. I loved it. SO SILLY.

• I love Mayura but like? I wish there had been more of her? Like I know Nathalie can't really be Mayura for long but still! It is great that she's getting more to do though!

• Also really enjoyed Gabriel akumatizing himself? He's not always smart, but sometimes he is, and this I liked very much! I feel so bad for Nooroo though :( Someone has to save him!

I know that I should wait a couple more weeks before s3 is finally finished but I am impatient! It's not a great show, I am frequently disappointed and frustrated by it, but I... sometimes I am charmed by this show.